Christmas

This has taken a while to get posted...December has been such a busy month. Hopefully I will be able to get pics up soon...

The month started out with a trip to Orlando to the Gaylord Palms' ICE! exhibit for Ronnie and Ann's birthdays. It's a frigid 9 degrees inside with over 2 tons of ice to make the exhibit the beauty that it is. It was great to be able to spend a night with old friends and new, and make memories together.

Then, I got sick. A nasty head cold had me down for about a week and a half. I spent the 3 nights at work nursing not only my concerned patients, but also mug-fulls of Thera-flu! A dear man that I was taking care of that week kept urging me to go home, becuase as he put it, "I'm just worried about ya, babe".

The following week we had our annual Christmas party with the whole gang together. It was a blast having the regift gift exchange. I came home with some of Raegan's old bath salts!!

The next week I, along with the rest of the world was busy preparing for Christmas. I worked, shopped and tried to find ways to be with those that I love the most. Work was intersting...Kent transfered to the ICU. It's weird working with your little brother. Then, I got shocked by a patient's pacemaker. Oh, the things they don't tell you in school... That's a completely different blog! :-)

Christmas Eve Eve was at home. I made lasagna dinner for all my friends and everyone came over to exchange gifts. It was so lovely to have the core of my friends together in one room during the holdiays. Later that evening, Brie Poole and Scott Inmon became engaged...congratulations!!!

Christmas Eve we went to my Aunt's house, as we do every year, for dinner. Kent and I were up with Santa while we worked... Christmas was awesome, just like always. I got the Vera Bradley bag I've been eyeing for a while and a gorgeaus Brighton necklace. Debbie got me a gift certificate to get my feet done...yum!!

The New Year is right around the corner, and I'm once again amazed at what God has done this year...

Warmest Holiday Wishes to everyone...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I was going to do this yesterday, but, alas, I ran out of time...

I am thankful for so many things, that it is difficult to know where to start I am thankful for my salvation and for my God. Without Him, I truly do not know where I would be. I would be lost and cold and alone in the world. Hallelujah that His mercies are never ending!!

My family, who is my everything. My parents who protect me and love me (even though I haven't lived with them for nearly a year!!) through the hard times and the good times. Thanks Mom and Dale!! My brothers and sisters for keeping life interesting. Never a dull moment at our house when we're all together. We've had so many new memories this year, that I will treasure forever. My boys, Josiah and Jordan, for reminding me that it's the simple things that matter in life-- reading a book on the bed. Feeding a baby a bottle and having them look in your eyes. I melt everytime I hold them!!

My friends...for everything! Teaching me to grow outside of myself and inspite of myself. For stretching me to limits that I didn't know existed. For showing me what life really is supposed to be like.

It is so easy to take these things for granted this time year. I was talking to a doctor here at work tonight and he was telling us how he is single, and does't have any family and is new to the area, so he spent Thanksgiving here at work. I realized how fortunate I am to have the life that I do. This is something that I want to avoid--taking all of these things for granted.

I went to my grandparent's house for dinner--it was scrumptous!!! Nothing was processed and EVERYTING was homemade. No TV dinners or prepackaged food to be found. Quite the treat for the single gal living off of TV dinners, Taco Bell and the occassional left over at mom's house! The weather has been gorgeaus--it's definetly autumn in Florida for once.

The radio station's are playing Christmas Carols on the late night shows. The stores have the Christmas displays up and perfected and they're gleaming in the lights. My other favorite time of the year is being heralded in... Christmas is in the air.

WaHoo!!

It's official...I'm going to Brazil in March!!! Yesterday, I paid for the ticket (over $1000--yikes!!). Today, I applied for my passport. It should be in by the first week of January... I'm so excited! I can't wait. I can't wait to impact the lives of people in a country who aren't as fortunate as we are to live here in the United States. I can't wait to use my education for the greater need and to get outside of my comfort zone. It should be very interesting!

More to come tomorrow!!

Itchy

So, about a month ago I had this rash on my belly. I thought no big deal... I'll just stay out of the pool for a while (too much chlorine). Then, it wasn't going away!! So, I switched laundry detergent, body wash, perfumes, bought new pajamas.

Still the itching welps continued to pop up. But, why would anyone want to go to the doctor. That just makes too much sense. I'll deal with it on my own!

About a week and a half ago I'd had enough! I couldn't get in with my regular doctor, so I went to a clinic down the road from my house. The PA who is about 2 weeks out of school walks in with the med student and after discussing what kind of possibl pseudomonis type infections it could be, decided that I, the goofy nurse who can't sleep, have a fungus. Gross, but something that can be dealt with. So, I walked out of there with my prescription for Diflucan and went on my merry way.

Said antifungal didn't work!! 2 days later I'm itcing again! I walk down the hallways using any hard surface I can to scratch my back. I'm constantly itching my legs. So, out of shear desperation, I go to my regular doctor. I explain the whole situation to him and he takes a look at these itchy little devils of welps on my legs...I have an arthropod. Think scabies, bed bugs, etc. DISGUSTING!!!!!! I am thoroughly creeped out right now.

The worst part is, I don't even know where this came from! Some patient at work probably passed along their lovely little buggers to me inflicting 2 months worth of pain and agony on me. So, I'm going out to buy new sheets and wash all of my clothes in hot water to get rid of these little parasites and lather my whole body in a cream. Quote of the week... "I don't do anything weird, but the people I take care of do!"

Golly, I love my job! :-{

Whew

I can't believe it's been a month sine I posted on here!!! So much is going on, and yet nothing at all. Last weekend I spent the weekend with mom. She bought a craddle for the new baby and we stained it blue--which didn't really take. Instead, it looks like a really, really deep mahogany. I think I like it better that anyways.... ;-) In the middle of staining I was helping Jen get ready for homecoming. It's so weird that this is her senior year. I remember when she started kindergarten in Dublin, Georgia. She wore black jean shorts and the vests that were all the rage. We matched. Now, we never match, but borrow each other's clothes and she is about to graduate from high school. As soon as she gives me my camera back, I'll post pictures...

Andrea's surprise baby shower is this weekend...mom and I made her a mattress to go with the craddle that we re-finished and we bought a bedding set and made curtains for the boys' room to decorate it as a gift. I bought her a new diaper bag filled with goodies for the winter.

Work has been chaotic. Yet another reminder of the quickly approaching winter. I've been working 4 days (48) hours a week in an attempt to get the money together to go to Brazil next March!!! It's nearly official--just waiting for the time off to be approved.

Michael's football team is doing great!! They think they will be going to the "Super Bowl". Only a few more weeks left in the football season. A few months off, then we start driving in the opposite direction toward Dunnellon for baseball season.

More to come later!!

The Waxing Fall

So, fall is nearly officially here. Gone are the dog days of summer consisting of lazing by the pool at least once a week, dark tan lines on my toes, wearing bathing suits to all 3 meals, and basking in the hot, muggy Florida sun.

Instead, cool, brisk breezes are beginning to blow through providing relief to all those days that I complained about it being too hot. I get to dust off the Gap finds that sitting in my closet since about July just waiting to be worn. The tiki torches and grill-outs on the back porches are coming back. This year, a fire pit will be added to the ambience. I love this time of year! It reminds me of the fall festivals at church; the Possum Hollow and Million Pines arts and crafts festivals that my parents used to drag us to every year growing up in Georgia.

There is an axious expectation in the air this year. Chris and Drea's baby is due in about 8 weeks. Josiah is practicing what to say to the new baby brother (Ssshhh...it's okay baby). We're also rehearsing the moon songs, especially for nights like tonight-when the harvest moon is bright and iridescent and gorgeous.

I have a feeling great things are in store for this fall...I feel it in the wind.

yeah!!!

So... about 2 months ago or so, I read a blog that I had written to my mom. She said that, in here opinion it was really, really good. And that she thought I should write for the e-devotion team at church. So, after about a week or so, I got the courage up actually get the ball rolling and figure out what I needed to do... Well, I got an e-mail today from Joe LaCognata, one of the associate pastors at church today, and I am now officially a member of the e-devotion team!!! Yeah!!!

So much other stuff has happened, this month, and this is kinda out of order, but I promise that I will post in all as soon as I can... Much love to everyone...

Changes

Some of the latest posts have been my journals. I hope that ya'll have enjoyed reading them. This is the last of the 3 that I wanted to post. Hopefully, I'll be able to give you more details later this week... Beth

Psalm 9:10
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Ecclesiastes 7:14
When times are good, be happy. But, when times are bad, consider God has made one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future.

I recently read an article on www.radiantmag.com about Joy Williams, a popular and relevant recording artist in the pop Christian music arena. Joy has been successful in many ways; professionally, personally, and in her walk with God. And yet, she describes how she feels that God is calling her to leave the comforts of a solo career, something she's been pursuing for several years now, and pursue something else. Her question is what next?

My sister's friends are leaving for colleges around the state. She is faced with one of the first real coming-of-age dilemmas, what next?

Two ministries that I have been involved with are moving the nights that they meet, making it nearly impossible for me to participate in them. My question is... what next?

My mother has always told my sister and me, and now our brother, that life is all about changes: changes in friends, class-mates, and teachers. For us, where we lived; what church we attended; what state we lived in changed frequently, but I am a home-body. I love routine and enjoy knowing that the routine from last week will basically be the same next week. Change is hard for me, but I'm learning more and more as I get older that change is constant. I can't control very many things. I can't control the fact that Ruby Tuesday's took the mashed cauliflower off the menu. I can't control the fact that my friends and I are having a difficult time hanging out because they are getting married, or seriously dating. My sister can't control that her friends are leaving. She can't necessarily control that she too will be leaving in a few years to go to college. Joy Williams can't control those desires and stirrings that God has instilled in her for the future.

What we can change is how we respond to the changes God brings to us. This, for me, is the hard part. Instead of lamenting over how hard it's all going to be, how the world is out to get us, and nobody understands us, we can change our outlooks, God gives us the bad days and the good days; He created them both. As difficult as it may seem, they are both gifts from Him. One of my favorite verses is John 3:17-- God didn’t come to the world, to condemn it, but to save it!! He wouldn't do anything to hurt us or to make us unnecessarily miserable.

We, as Christ followers can take comfort in knowing that if we continue to seek Him, even in the hard times, that we will continue to find Him. Whether that is in a new ministry, a new town, or even in a new venture, these are our rewards! Riches beyond anything we can ever imagine—a closer, more personal walk with our Savior.

Rock-em-Sock-em Robots

So, I'm a nurse. I enjoy what I do. I work long hours- at night- give everything I have to my patients while I'm at work, but attempt to forget them as soon as I walk out the door (for my psychiatric health), and then do the same thing all over again the next week. Well, I had a patient this week that I won't forget for a while. Neither will the workerman's comp people.

This gentleman had surgery about a week ago. He hadn't slept since then. The problem was that he hasn't REALLY slept for any amount of time for about a year and a half, according to his daughter. Being the wholistic healthcare provider that I am, decided my goal for Sunday night was to get this guy to sleep the night through if it killed me. I gave him a medicine that should have helped him sleep alot, since I couldn't give him the pain medicine (it was making him confused).

Instead, a half an hour later, he swearing at me, cursing me, trying to get out of bed with all the paraphanalia still attached to him, and just being beligerent. That one bit me in the booty. So, I call the doctor. She gives me yet another medicine to get him to calm down enough to let the first on take some kind of effect. It didn't work either.

So, I get the doctor on the phone again, get the guy up the chair in the meantime. Well, he's tall- about 6'3"- towering over me!! While we're (me and about 3 other nurses plus the male nurse intern)moving him, he tries to shove me down. He was trying hard, too!! So, we set him down in the chair, are tying the restraints back on when the doctor calls back. I'm attempting to talk to her, make sure he doesn't try to get up, and not dislodge his catheter all at the same time-- something I normally do.

I'm describing this man's mood and agitation level to her "he is becoming increasingly agitated, combative (note: he's aiming at something), and beligerent..." pow!!! He punched me right in the jaw where the phone was up against my face! I couldn't think of anything except for a loud, probably exaggerated gasp!! The doctor heard the commotion, and gave me something that finally worked... thank goodness!!

All I could think of was that game that my brothers and sister got for Christmas when they were younger-- Rock-em-Sock-em Robots. That was the motion he took as he swung at me. I spent about a half an hour in our emergency room getting checked out. Then another hour or so the next morning filling out workman's comp paperwork (again), and taking the obligatory drug testing.

I wonder if I was the red robot or the blue?

Captivating

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all you heart”—Jeremiah 29:13
Hosea chapters 1 and 2

I am currently reading a book called Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge. It is a book that affirms to us women, that we are, indeed, the spitting image of God. We hold in our hearts traits that are in His heart. We long to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in an adventure, and to have our beauty unveiled by a great man. We are relational to our very cores. We, as women, desire to be discovered; the way a new haunt is discovered, the way a book is discovered—carefully and over time. This is probably why men say we are a mystery. I am learning so much about myself, my friends and my God!

What I already knew (and have known for a while), is that I long with my entire heart to be pursued by a godly man someone who fears God with his entire heart; a man that I will be able to go into ministry with, a man who loves me with all of his might—but whose love for me will never eclipse his love for our Maker. I have been hoping and dreaming of this boy/guy/man since I was a girl. (My first crushes as an adolescent held many of the superficial qualities that I would seek.) As I am getting older, my friends are getting married and settling down. I have used their relationships as guide posts for what my future mate would look like, persistent, strong, unwavering, patient, etcetera. I want him to pursue me the way Hosea pursued Gomer, relentlessly and with God’s blessings.

What I learned the other day in Captivating, is that the Trinity is a mystery, in much the same way that we women are a mystery. God desires to be known and appreciated with a deeper level of wonderment. He longs and desires for me to pursue after Him in the same way that I long and desire to be pursued by a man. I have to take the time, and energy, and the risk of getting to know Him better. It has to be purposeful. Something that is intentional; much in the same way that you take the time to get to know a date, a family member, or even a friend. Hosea took the time and risk to pursue Gomer. My dad took the time and risk to purse my mom. Some of my friends are in the midst of this adventure now. Why, then, is it such a foreign concept for me to pursue God? To search for His heart? To allow Him to unveil the qualities that lie beneath the surface of my heart?

Take the risk with me—and let’s see what this wonderful journey will reveal to us.

Late Summer in Florida

Last weekend was the quintessential weekend for the waning days of summer in Florida. It started on Thursday when Joy and I met for our weekly date-- lunch at Moe's and a matinee. Friday was busy--oil change, running errands with Chelle for lunch, then the eye doctor. All those times I told my mom I was going blind, I wasn't that far off-- I have an astigmatism and apparently had ambliopia as a child,but we never caught it. Then, ONE! that night and splitting time between Brie and the boys at Zaxby's and Joy and Jason along with the girls at Ruby Tuesdays.

Saturday, I got up at an unbelievably early hour to go tubing down the Ichutuknee River. We tubed it twice-- the good news- nobody got burned. The bad- I still can't move my upper body the way I should be able to. :-) Apparently there should be different sized tubes for different sized torsos. I require an extra small. So, once again I alone made the trip memorable for the near misses between me and the logs, and the tubes. We picniced in the parking lot and took mini-naps in the tubes--FUN!! That night we all grilled steaks at Joy's and ate till we were completely stuffed.

Sunday I slept in --a little bit (yeah!). Then, we went swimming with Siah in the pool. It was hot and muggy and wonderful! It reminded me of why I love Florida so much, and why I live here!! I was and am contented and happy. Today, school started back. Jen is a senior, Michael is in the 7th grade. I feel old, but at the same time I'm as happy as a kid!

Wednesday the girls are coming over for Girl's Night, and I'm cooking dinner-- Spaghetti and salads and bread. Hope this weekend is just as much fun!

Waiting

I feel like I've been waiting my whole life. I waited with eager anticiptation to start school. To be able to grasp the English language and to command it the way my mom did when I was a kid. I waited to start wearing make-up. My friends had started in the 5th grade. Sharing mascara and blush and eye shadow application tips over the lunch table. I wante so badly to join in, but because my mom taught in the same school, everything I did was under scrutiny. I rejoiced on Christmas day in the 7th grade when I got my first set of make-up. I waited to get my driver's license- I had to wait until I was almost 17 because we had moved from Mississippi to Florida. To graduate from college with my nursing degree;to get my first apartement.

Now... I'm waiting yet again. Waiting to meet the love of my life. That man who God has created to complement me perfectly. With whom I will spend the rest of my life. As my friends begin settling down one-by-one around me, I am becoming acutely more aware of this. It's no longer "just the girls". Now, there are husbans, boyfriends, familial obligations, and balancing acts addedt to the mix. I have standing appointments on Thursdays and Fridays to see two of my closest friends-- this is the only it can be managed.

While I'm sad that everyone else's lives are moving on, and I feel like I'm in that famliar "wait and see" holding pattern, I'm trying with all of my might to hold onto the truths that I know are from God-- Jeremiah 28:11; Isiah 30:11; Proverbs 3;5&6. These are all that will sustain me.

What a Weekend!!

I've had a busy last several days. It started on Thursday when I took my parents to the airport to fly to Kansas City, Missouri. Then, on Friday Raegan and I took Joy and her mom, Janna to the airport to fly to Brazil for a medical missions trip. Everything went alright until I being the dork that I am took 275 south instead of north. So, we took a brief detour to the Gulfcoast beaches. ;) But, after a yummy hot meal at Bob Evans, we got straightened out and home in time to make it to ONE!...

Saturday was a trip to Busch Gardens. We got there and it was the typical disgustingly hot, humid Florida afternoon. It wasn't long afterward, that the heavens opened up and we got rained out. We only got to ride one roller coaster. :( The good thing... we got rain tickets for later on this year. Then came, the next adventure. Trying to make it to the Dish from Busch. We got very, very lost in downtown Tampa. Afternoon passing Nebraska Avenue at least 3 times, and about an hour of driving around, we found YBor City and, alas dinner. Then a movie and Starbucks, the savior of nearly every trip, and we headed home. It was a great way to hang out with old friends and new friends and we now have the memory of "that one time when we went to the Dish and Brie and Beth thought that they knew where they were going, but instead we got really, REALLY lost!!"

What a Weekend!!

I've had a busy last several days. It started on Thursday when I took my parents to the airport to fly to Kansas City, Missouri. Then, on Friday Raegan and I took Joy and her mom, Janna to the airport to fly to Brazil for a medical missions trip. Everything went alright until I being the dork that I am took 275 south instead of north. So, we took a brief detour to the Gulfcoast beaches. ;) But, after a yummy hot meal at Bob Evans, we got straightened out and home in time to make it to ONE!...

Saturday was a trip to Busch Gardens. We got there and it was the typical disgustingly hot, humid Florida afternoon. It wasn't long afterward, that the heavens opened up and we got rained out. We only got to ride one roller coaster. :( The good thing... we got rain tickets for later on this year. Then came, the next adventure. Trying to make it to the Dish from Busch. We got very, very lost in downtown Tampa. Afternoon passing Nebraska Avenue at least 3 times, and about an hour of driving around, we found YBor City and, alas dinner. Then a movie and Starbucks, the savior of nearly every trip, and we headed home. It was a great way to hang out with old friends and new friends and we now have the memory of "that one time when we went to the Dish and Brie and Beth thought that they knew where they were going, but instead we got really, REALLY lost!!"

Scenes from the Summer

Me and Jen in also heading for the pool!! It's the place to be!!
Josiah headin' for the pool!!!
Michael @ 88.3's Family Friendly Fourth Celebration
"The Wedding of the Year"--Michelle and Peter Steinmetz 7/1/06
Michelle's Wedding Shower 6/24/06
My first 4th of July Cake!!!

Opinions

My friends Michelle and Peter got married this past weekend. Michelle and her mom and us girls have spent the last 5 months planning this event. They are the first of our group to get married. While I knew there were so many details to decide on, and to logisticaly plan ( who buys the cake server, how do the bridesmaids get to the church?, what to do when 3 of the groomsmen can't come to the rehearsal), I didn't neccessarily think of all of them. We all thought of them simultaneously at about 4:00 on Friday mere hours before the rehearsal.

As a little girl, I had grand elusions of the huge church wedding. My dad walking me down the aisle, my 15 closest girlfriends standing with me and apporximately 300 or so guests watching as marched down the aisle in my Vera Wang wedding dress to Cannon in D flat. We would then be whisked away to a reception that would make Martha Stewart blush.

Reality has now set in. Not only is this completely unrealistic for this chick-- nursing doesn't pay that well-- but, this isn't at all what I want. I want a wedding that is indicative of me and my personality and my future husband. I am learning more and more that it is about the marriage that comes afterward and that is symbolized in the wedding, than it is about the hour d'ourves that are served or the color of the bridesmaid dresses. It is all icing on the cake (pardon the pun).

Another friend of mine is very close to getting engaged. She called me at work tonight in tears about something that had happened in her relationship. It was so weird that she would call me to discuss relationship advice. I'm the last person that people should be coming too. But she did. I walked away from the conversation strangely happy that for this season of my life I am single. I have no real obligations to fulfill. No one to clear plans through, no one's opinion that means more than mine. I am acutely aware of the advantages of being single. It is a good thing.

So, if you get a note from me mentioning St. Thomas you'll know that I am either going on vacation, or eloping. And you'll know why

Growing Up

Ephesians 4:14-16

One of my best friends is getting married this weekend. We have been planning for this wedding for 5 months now. Another friend of mine is about to have her first child. My sister is pregnant with her second child-- a little boy they will name Raydon. I have been out of high school for 5 quick years, and out of nursing school for 2 even quicker years. It hit me a few months ago that I'm not a kid anymore. I can no longer use that excuse. I am watching my nephew grow up. Watching make the mistakes that we all make as kids-- drinking too much water in the swimming pool. Wiping a chocolate mouth on Mama's couch. And the list continues.There are only a few things that you have to do once and you won't do them again. But, what is the most frustrating for me is that I am seeing in myself making the same mistakes, and attempting to learn the same lessons that I was attempting to learn a couple of years ago.

In the passage before this, Paul talks about unity and how we all fit together to form one Body-- the Church. It has been described as an alliteration to the human body as well as braiding together a rope. The individual strands are weak, but put all together, the whole is strong and sure and nearly unstoppable. It can stop a freightliner, hoist metal beams and countless other seemingly impossible tasks. However, the rope is only as strong as it's weakest strand.

Part of our calling as Chirst followers is to continue to grow. To grow in His teachings, in our knowledge of Him, in our Confidence in Him, in being able to discerne between false teachings and those of a sound teacher, those of a schemer and one who has our best interests at heart. If the weakest strand of the rope is thickened and reinforced and strengthened, then the whole rope-- the whole Church-- will benefit.

How do we become strengthened? By engaging in community-- small groups, Sunday School classes, ONE!, groups of friends who are not afraid to tell you how it is. By having cosistent quiet times and prayer times. By spending time with the God that breathed life into us and knit us together in our mother's wombs. It is time to quit being infants and start growing up. Me included.

Callings

Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.

>Calling-- a profession, a vocation

I am 23, single, I have a profession that I love (I am a nurse in the ICU). By all accounts so far, I am still searching for what God has in store for me next—marriage, the missions, parenthood, etc. I haven’t been feeling challenged lately—instead, I’ve been feeling stagnant, still, shallow. This is not, who I am or who I want to be. I want to be dynamic, changing, and continuously growing deeper in my walk with God, and in my other relationships. Well, ask and you shall receive. I have been challenged two-fold. One is to help with ONE!- to act as a sort of a producer. To come up with a flow and stream of how a Friday night will unfold. I’ve never done anything like this, but I enjoy planning and organizing, so, I think that it will go well. The other was to start blogging my walk more. Dave Scott encouraged me to start with Ephesians 4&5 since they deal with the values that ONE! holds as important.

So, here we are. I read 4:1 and was stopped. “…I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.” What is my CALLING? Not what profession am I supposed to spend the next 40 or so years receiving a paycheck for, but what is it that God has called me to further His Kingdom with? I have watched countless people my age struggle with this. Should I be a doctor? An art historian? What about an educator? Or a journalist? Do I combine my professional life with my spiritual/personal life and become a missionary to a far off land or a pastor in my hometown? This is a struggle I have been dealing with for the last 2 years or so. Paul challenges us to live a worthy and worthwhile life. But for what? Is this calling personal, or generic? Is it specific to one area of my life? Or is it all encompassing? I have a feeling the answer is D.) all of the above. In fact, I know it is. I don’t have all of the answers, I’m still figuring it all out. But what I do know is this—

I (we) as a Christ-Follower, have a calling that surpasses all others. We have a calling to salvation, holiness, and a faith that He will work out all the details. Even those that we don’t and can’t think of. We are called to accept our eternal inheritance, the fellowship of those around us and the service we were charged with—to lead others to the same ( the Great Commission).

As the Message puts it—“Get out there and walk- better yet, run- on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want to see any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want to see anyone strolling on paths that lead to nowhere.” I just have to start. Do SOMETHING and He will open the doors to the specific direction that He wants me to take. And the direction that I need and want.

Nothing in Particular

I don't really enjoy doing this. I wish that I had something more spectacular to show for the week... I just don't. Work, was well... work. I got gummed-- the old person version of bit. But other than that, pretty uneventful. No wild SUV chases or BBQ sauce fights. Thank goodness! :) We had Fun Night at ONE!! It was, well, fun (duh). Peter attacked and killed a pinata, I got acosted by static electricity and Jason. We met lots of new people, and connected better with the one's we didn't know so well. Tonight was the meeting of the single gals club. We are official now. We went to Olive Garden and Starbuck's and just hung out. This is what being in your 20's is suppossed to be about.

I am looking for a new devotinal/ Bible Study. I need something to REALLY challenge me. It's far past time that I got back into the groove again.

It's summertime. We have plans to go to the beach next Friday. Everyone is wearing their sleeveless shirts, and opening the sunroofs. And the first storm of the 2006 Hurricane Season is about to be bearing down on Florida. Accoriding to the NOAA website, it should hit somewhere between south of Tampa and east of the panahandle. That really narrows it down, huh? :) Glad my laundry is done now.

The family is gone on vacation. Without me. It's weird to not be with them. I've missed one other year, and that was because or work. Sometimes, being an adult isn't all its cracked up to be. But, then, other times, it's far better...

Mr. Darcy and Lizzy

Normally, on Friday Nights, ONE! meets. And it's great because we get to see the whole huge group and meet new people and just hang out. Brian and Jimmy lead worship and we learn something... I usually learn alot. Then, we all go out to eat and get ridiculously full and deplete our banking accounts just a bit more.

Not this week though. This week was Pride and Prejudice week. About 6 months ago Chelle and I bought Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice-- the A&E version. Well, due to us going to Snowbirds, her getting engaged, then married, and other commitments that all of that entailed for both of us, we haven't been able to watch it. So, this week we decided this Friday night, we would have a girl week. Chelle came over and we cooked chicken with olive oil and abando and made salads. We drank iced tea and watched as Mr. Darcy and Lizzy duked it out verbally. We laughed at the melodrama of the whole thing. Joy came over after work (in her pajamas) and fell asleep on the floor. We talked about wedding plans and did we do best-- just being. It was the best Friday we've had in a while. Can't wait until next month when we get to do it again!

Confesstions of a TwentySomething Klutz

It is Friday night, about 1:00. I have a craving for ice cream. I go to Wal-Mart (where else at that time in the morning?!) and am parusing down the frozen food section and find the Edy's Slow Churned ice cream... Girls Scout Samoa Cookie Ice Cream, to be exact. Then, the idea hits me. I want chocolate syrup to go with it. Well, where do they keep the Hershey's syrup? On the aisle with the ketchup, mustard, BBQ sauce and industrial sized mayonnaise. Why?, I'm really not sure, but they do.

So, I'm leaning toward the left side, trying to make sure that I'm on the right aisle. What I didn't see... you guessed it... KFC Masterpiece BBQ sauce, with Sesame Seeds. Well, I go splat all over the floor. My favorite pair of Roxy sandals, my favorite Old Navy jeans are both covered in chicken dressings. So, I try to get up. It wasn't graceful, it wasn't elegant, it wasn't pretty. It wasn't successful . I go down again. And about 3 or 4 more times, until I finally get frustrated enough to take my shoes off and walk barefooted (GROSS) through Wal-Mart.

I had to make a special trip to my parent's house to wash my jeans and shirt. My sandals are still slippery and my car smells like a mix between General Tso's chicken and the BBQ chicken my dad raised me on. Go stinkin' figure. Who else would that happen to? Only me... just watch out behind those SUV's :)

~Beach Debut Day 2006~
Joy and I at Ormond Beach this week

Beach Debut Day

One of my favorite Days of the year is the first day that I get to spend the day basking in the Florida sunshine, listening to the crash of the tide on the everchanging beach line. The gulls are sweeping over head, and occassionally, if you are lucky and very observant, you can see the dolphins just below the horizon. These days always bring back so many memories.

My mom has this picture of my dad and me. I was 2 and he was 26 or 27 and we were both seeing the Atlantic ocean for the first time. When Jennifer was 6 weeks old we took her to the beach. She got so burned she looked more a tomato with hair than an infant. The last time we went to the beach as a family. Dad let us rent boogey boards and we laughed and had so much fun. The next summer we went to the Jersey shore and got more burned than I ever have in my entire life!! It was exciting to see somewhere different. In 2003 we drove from Florida to Texas to see Dale's sister and brother-in-law who live in Dallas. Along the way we stopped in Biloxi and took a ferry out to the barrier islands. That island, as I understand it is now completely underwater due to the effects of Hurrican Katrina. In 2005, Joy and Michelle and I went to Los Angeles and we stuck our toes into the Pacific Ocean. It was COLD!!!! I hope to return.

Happy Beach Debut Day Everyone!!!

Roadrunner and Sweet Tea

When I moved into my nifty little one bedroom apartement at the end of December, I decided that I didn't have the money to afford the internet... I still don't but thanks to PATIENCE, and some detective work, I found out that my cable company is having a special... $14.99 a month for a year. What a steal!!! So I called and reluctantly agreed to have them come out today, Wednesday mornign between 8 and 11, knowing the fatigue that I would probably be suffering from. But what's a few hours, right? Well, I slept right through the appointment. Typical. So, I called the lovely people at Brighthouse to figure out when we would be able to reschedule. They ever so politely told me that they could add me on at the end of the day and the service guy would be there sometime between now (11:30) and 8:00 this evening. Very well, there goes another day of the gym. So,9 hours a VERY cleaned apartement, a pitcher of sweet tea, half of a Jodi Piccoult book, Oprah, Dr. Phil (the primetime version), and PATIENCE. I still do not have the internet. Did I mention PATIENCE? I have been promised that the nice little service guy will be here on Friday morning between 8:00 and 11:00 to install my Roadrunner service. Goodness, I hope I can stay awake this time...

For Heather

Oh, so much has happened since I last took the time to sit down and post. The apartement is going fabulously well. I, along with my parents painted my living room. The dark jewel tones are all coming together nicely and I had yet another realization that I am officially an adult as I parused down the aisle at Target where they house all of the placemats and napkins proclaiming that "those won't do... they don't match the pillows in the living room!!!" A few weeks after that I had my own encounters with the unitelligible, as I got ran over by a rather large SUV at work. After six weeks, multiple X-rays, a CT scan, an MRI, a prescription for muscle relaxants, and an eerie identification with my all of my patients, and then a visit to an orthopaedic SURGEON, I found out that I torn a tendon in my left wrist and severly sprained two others on the outside of the same wrist. That is a whole different conversation, that I am only just now able to type. The back pool at Carlton Arms has been my friend lately. Many lazy, hot Florida spring afternoons have been spent there. I am darker now in the beginning of May, than I have been in years!!! Yeah!!! Summer is just beginning at I can't wait until I begin making the trek across the state to Ormond for lazy days in the sand with the sound of the surf just a few feet away from me... not just something I try to reenact in my head. Hopefully these will be coming much more regularly, the cable comes next Wednesday to hook up the internet in my apartement. Happy Thursday, everyone!!

Life

This has been a tumultuous week. Things that I knew in my head have been crashing into my heart. I've been dealing with things that have been haunting me in my past. God has been a close companion. Along with my friends who have never left me, the old standby of Ossie (Oswald Chambers), and Paul. Specifically Romans 8. The take away...

We have an obligation to Christ to strive to be more like Him. We have an obligation to the Holy Spirit to do as He prods us to do. I have an obligation to God to worship Him, and honor him, and as Dave challenged us to do last weekend- make worshipping Him a lifestyle. God has given me desires and hopes and dreams. These are from Him. This cannot be denied. The desire to have a husband, and kids, and to be used in ministry with my future family was created from God, and so, I believe that He will honor it. However, as Paul says in Romans 8:17, Creation is frustrated. It is frustrated with the mundane life, the ebb and flow that is never ending. My frustration that these things aren't happening are normal. It is what I do with them that is the deciding factor. If I choose to allow God to be glorified through them and at this time in my life and if I allow Him to do what he wants to do-- be my sufficiency-- then His will, will be accomplished. The frustrations that I encounter here on earth are mere hills in the path compared to what glories await me in Heaven. I choose to strive to be more like Christ.

The wise old Ossie said this week that we have to take the times of darkness and embrace them as times to listen. I am in a time of weakness with Overflow. I don't know what my niche is in Overflow. Where exactly it is that I fit in this ministry that means so much to me and is on the brink of something phenomaly huge. This is my time to be quite and allow God to talk to me and for me to listen.This isn't the time for reading countless books and taking council from countless people-- although these are good activities. Instead, as David said in Psalm- Be still and KNOW that I am God. BE STILL. And listen, and He will reveal who He is. Not what He is going to do.

What I've been learning

My two friends are dating, well actually engaged. Yeah!! I'm so happy for them. I'm also happy for my other friends who are also engaged/about to be engaged/seriously dating. I truly and genuinly am. But, it's hard , because I want this as well. I want to be as happy and as excited and as settled as they are. It's weird though, because not only are their lives about to change, but so is mine. Never again will there be just the girls. We won't be able to go to the bathroom at Joy and Raegan and Chelle's with the door open and not think about. Kostos is coming into the group and I'm not Lena. I think I'm Tibby...(different story). Anyways here is what I'm learning in the midst of all of this.

I want to have a relationship with a man like that of my friends. That is God inspired and God created--He made me this way. It's okay. The part I sometimes miss is that it is on His timing and not mine. That the man I want to marry will love me with every fiber in his being. He will look at me with the intensity that Peter looks at Michelle, but with the duration of my parents and grandparents. But, more importantly, this man, whomever he is, will love God a million times more than he could ever dream of loving me. I'm working on loving Him a million times more than I could ever love my future husband.

God is working on me. He has made me humble in the last eight weeks or so in certain areas. I'm learning to not take my littel "gang" for granted like I did before. I'm learning that even friendships that are far away are precious and need to be cultivated. He is also humbling me on this topic. He is teaching me to trust Him with everything, and I emphasize everything. This is the biggest area that is the hardest. By trusting God with this, I am surrendering so many things to Him, things that I would sometimes prefer to keep to myself.

Lessons

Okay, it' s been a while since I've done this, and a lot has happened. So....everyone put on their seatbelts.

I moved into my apartement over Christmas (Merry early Christmas to me!). But, I don't have internet and spotty at best cell service, so it's a challenge to get a hold of people sometimes. All of the boxes are removed adn I actually have flowers sitting in my living room, yeah!!, and the biggest shocker is that I've actually been cooking! Should last for a good long while.

The ICU is going great! I'm on my own and feeling more and more confident every night. I've learned more the past few months than I have in a long time. More classes are coming up all of the time.

Can't wait for Snowbirds!! Only 11 days left!!! I've got to order some jeans... Perfect timing on that one, only a day after my birthday.

So, send your recipes, I need the practice, and I love you all!!